Retractable traffic sign



Jan. 6, 1953 H. E.AFFREY 2,624,307

RETRACTABLE TRAFFIC SIG N Filed Oct. 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l l q Z-?..5.57

ATTD RNEYS `Ilan. 6, 1953 H. E. CAFFREY 2,(5241-07l RETRACT-ABLE TRAFFICSIGN Filed oct. 26, 1949 s sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN I OR.

y Howard-Z. Caf/regg ATTD RN EYB Jan. 6, 1953 H. E. cAFFRl-:Y 2,624,307

- RETRACTABLE TRAFFIC SIGN f Filed oct. 2e, 1949 s sheets-sheetV sEgrgQD @@9 dg i I 'L g STADIUM IL@ I N V EN Y OR.

Hawafd Caffrgv/ E* en/mud.

ATTE RN EYE Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Howard E.Cairey, Tucson, Ariz. f Application October 26, 1949,"Seria1No. 123,682

This invention relates to retractable or disappearing signs of the typeused as speed or warning signs on the side of 'a highway or for trailicsigns at intersections, and in particular the invention relates to apost having a sign or signs on the upper end and a well into which thepost with the signs thereon is dropped when Ynot in use with means forretaining the post in an eX- tended position and also a cover forsubstantially sealing the'well with the post therein.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a disappearing sign that maybe dropped into a well buried in a roadway or on the side thereof Whennot in use and that may readily be elevated Y when use thereof isdesired, whereby the necessity of rolling heavy trailic signs to' andfrom positions in streets or on the sides of roadways is eliminated.

In numerous types of parking, street and traffic signs it is desired touse the signs only during certain hours or when an occasion requires thesigns and when use of the signs is not required it is diflicult todispense therewith. With this thought in mind this inventioncontemplates a sign positioned in a tubular well extended downwardly ina street or on the side of a roadway and means for supporting the signin the upperY end of the well with the sign extended for use.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means formounting a sign of the type used for traiiic and the like whereby thesign may or may not be used as may be desired.

Another Aobject of the invention is to provide a tra-nic sign of thedisappearing type in which lights may be incorporated therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign of the disappearingtype for traic use wherein it is only necessary to raise the signupwardly and lock it in an upwardly extended position when use thereofis desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a street and trailicsign ofthe disappearing type which is of a simple and economicalconstruction. l

With these and other objects andV advantages in view the inventionembodies a tubular' post having folding signs with lights on the upperend thereof, a tubular well positioned to receive the post and sign, abase carried by the lower end of the post -having locking means thereonfor re taining the post and signs in upwardly extended positions, and acoverplate hinged to the upper end of the well for sealing the well withthe post and sign therein.

Other features and advantages ofthe inven- 2 Claims.' (Cl. 116-63) tionvwill appear from the following description taken in connection with thedrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a side elevation of the tubular post withsigns on the upper end thereof and with the upper end of a tubular wellin which the post is positioned shown in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section through the trailic sign retainingwell with parts broken away and part shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the well showing the cover thereof in theclosed position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the cover open and showing signsextended from the sides of the post in folded positions. y

Figure 5 is a similar View takenV on line 5-5 o Figure 1 showing lockingdogs for holding the post with the signs thereon in the upwardlyextended position.

Figure 6 is a cross section through the well taken on line 6-6 of Figure2 showing the locking dog operating elements.

Figure 7 is a sectional plan Vshowing the lower end of the well withdrain holes shown therein.

Figure 8 is a detail showing a section taken on line 8 8 of Figure V1illustrating one of the locking dogs with a retracting spring connectedthereto.

Figure 9 is a View illustrating a modication wherein traiiic lights andsigns are used on the upper end of the post Figure 10 is a View similarto that shown in Figure 9 illustrating the folded positions of traiiicsigns that may be carried by the upper end of the post and with partsbroken away.

Figure 11 is a detail showing a section on line I I -l I of Figure 9illustrating a clamp for secur-` ing the traiiic signals on the upperend of the post as shown in Figure 9. y

Figure 12 is a crosssection taken on line l2--l2 of Figure 9illustrating a` telescoping signal housing.v

Figure 13 is a vertical section through a traffic signal well similar tothe section shown in Figure 2 and illustrating a modification whereinthe post is elevated by a screw.

Figure 14 is a plan view similar to that shown in Figure 5 illustratinga further 'modication wherein cam shaped pivotally mounted dogsareprovided for retaining the post and signs in an upwardly extendedposition.

Figure 15 is a view illustrating a'modication wherein the wellisprovided with a flat cover so that it may be incorporated in a manholein a street or may bepositioned in a roadway or street.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like..

reference characters denote corresponding parts the disappearing trafficsignal of this invention includes a post I having a base I on the lowerend, and a Well formed with a tubular casing I2 having a hinged coverI3, and the upper end of the post is provided with signs |4 havingfolding sections I5, and with lights I6 on the uppez` end above thesigns.

The base of the post I0 is formed with an intermediate depending flange|1 and an outer flange I8 providing a horizontally disposed rim or seat|51I on which a packing ring 20 is positioned. With the sign in the wellthe lower edge of the flange I8 rests on stops 2| providing an open area22 in the lower part of the well for an armored electric cable 23. Thelower end 24 of the well is also provided with perforations 25 toVprovide drainage into a sand bed 26 that may -be provided below thelower end of the well. The cable 23 extends upwardly through avertically disposed recess 21 in oneA side of the tube I2 to a switch-orcontrol box 28 in the upper end of the well from which a cable 29 mayextend to any suitable point.

Locking dogs 33, as illustrated in Figure 5 are mounted between theupper surface of the base and a plate 3| with pins 32 extended upwardlyfrom a stai' shaped cam `33 through slots 34 and` in the plate 3|. Thedogs '39 are resiliently held inwardly by springs 36 attached to thelower surfaces thereof and the springs are positioned in slots 31 in thebase 1| I as shown in Figure 8. The pins 32` may be actuated by hand ormay be kicked in the lslots 34 vand 35 whereby the star shaped cam 33will engage the dogs 39., forcing the dogs. outwardly to the positionshown in Figure 5 so that they will rest on a collar'38 of an annularringv 39 mounted -on a flange 49 extended around the upper end of thetube I2 and secured to the flange Vby screws 4|. The dogs 3i) areprovided with beveled under surfaces 42 through which a clamping actionis obtainedas the dogs are forced outwardly, clamping the packing washer29 against the undersurface of the ring 4| providing sealing means toprevent moisture or water passing'downwardly into the Well vwith thecover I3 open.

It will be understood that the locking dogs forv securing the base ofthe post l0 in the upper extended position may be of any type or designand may be operated by any suitable means. A modification is illustratedin Figure 14 vwherein cam shaped. dogs 43 are used and these dogs arepivotally mounted by pins 44 on a base 45 similar to the base and thesedogs are actuated by pins 46 on arms 41 whereby the dogs may be extendedover the upper edge of a flange 48 similar to the flange or rim 38 ofthe design shown in Figure 1. The base is provided on the lower end of apost 49 similar to the post I9.

The cover I3 is hinged to the flange 39 by a pin 59 extended through alug 5I extended upwardly from the flange and extended into the adjoiningsides of the cover. The opposite side of the cover is provided with arecess 52 having` a slot 53 therein through which an eye 54 extends,with the coverinthe closed positionand a bail 55 of a lock 56 may beinserted through the eye, as illustrated in'Figure 3 to lock thecover inthe closed position.

The upper surface of the cover is provided with a flange 56 havingreflectors 51 positioned thereon andthe reflectors are positioned toreturn light rays to indicate the position of the traffic Well.

The inner surface of the cover i3 is provided with lan annular recess58in which a gasket 59l is positioned and, as illustrated in Figure 2the gasket contacts the upper surface of the flange 39 to seal the upperend of the well with the flange 38 extended upwardly beyond the gasketand into the cover. The cover is held upwardly in the position shown inFigure 1 by a spring 69 that is positioned around the pin 59 of thehinge.

It will be understood that panels for signs may be mounted on the upperend ofthe post in any suitable manner and in the design shown the signpanels I4 are attached to the post by clip angles 6| at the upper endland 62 at the lower end and when it is desired to extend the width ofthe sign vfolding panels I5 are attached to the panels |4 by hinges 63.Spring clips 64 are provided at the upper end to retain the extendedpanels I5 in the f folded positions as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The light I6, provided at the upper end of the post is illustrated ashaving lenses on four sides thereof and it will be understood that asignal .light of any type or design may be used.

In the design illustrated in Figure-9 the usual trafc lights, asindicated by the numeral65 yare positioned on a sleeve $6 on the upperend of a post 61 similar to the post I0 and a plurality of signs areprovided on the faces of telescoping sections 98 and 69. Panels 19 areattached to the sleeve 69 by hinges 1| and 12, and the sections 53 areprovided with fasteners 13 that coact with spring clips 14 to hold thetelescoping sections and panels in outwardly extended positions asillustrated in Figure 9. It vwill be understood that the telescopingsections and panels may be replaced by signs of any type and the signsmay be mounted onV the post byany means. In this design the lower end ofthe sleeve 69 is provided with slits 15 and a clamp 16 with a thumbscrew 11 therein is provided to clamp the sleeve 66 with a post 61. Thesleeve 56 is also provided with a hand ring 'I8 with arcuate arms 19 tofacilitate withdrawing the post with the signs thereon from the well.

In the design illustrated in Figure 13 a post 89 similar to the post l0is mounted in a hub 8| of a base 82 and the base is provided with abracket 33 having hubs 84 and 85 that are threaded on a screw 86 andwith `the screw 86 rotated through a stud 81 on the upper end thereof bya brace 83 the post may be raised or lowered as desired. In this designthe post is suspended in a Well 89 similar to the well I2 and the wellis provided with a collar 99 on a flange 9| around the upper end. Thebase 82 is also provided with a flange 92 and a gasket 93 is positionedbetween the flange 92 and the ange 9| to seal the area around the upperend of the well.

In this design, however, the base 32 is provided with openings 94 and 'acover 95, similar to the cover I3 is hinged to the flange 9| byV a pin95. The cover 95 is also provided with a gasket 91 and a spring 98 holdsthe cover in the open position. The screw 8S is journaled in a bearing99 in a vertically disposed recess |00 in one side of the well B9 andthe upper end of the screw is journaled in an opening |0| in a flange 62similar t0 the flange 49. A cable |03 similar to the cable 23 extendsupwardly through the post to connect Y the signals on the upper endthereof. to a suitable source of current and to control devices.

With the parts as illustrated and described a sign such as a school orstop sign may be incorporated in a tubular well extended downwardly intothe ground and when use of the sign is not desired the well may beclosed, sealed and locked. v

Whenvit is desiredv to use the sign the cover rnay be unlocked andopened and the post with the signs thereon elevated to the positionillustrated in Figure 1 and the post and signs may be locked in thisposition by the dogs 363. The sign post may, therefore, be used only asdesired and when not in use it is out of the way and completely enclosedin a tubular well below the ground.

The disappearing post may be used for different types of signs, trafficsignals, and the like and any suitable means may be provided for raisingand lowering the post with the signs thereon.

It will also be understood that a well ld may be provided with a fiatcover H35 that may be hinged through a pin l in a hub 137 to a collar m8with a packing gasket Il between the cover and collar. The collar ismounted on a flange im of the well HM by screws Hl. The outer edge ofthe cover 95 may be provided with an overlapping bead or flange i i2.

The well may, therefore, be positioned on the side of a street orroadway or may be sunk into a street, highway, or the like or may betemporarly positioned in a manhole of a sewer or the like and Where thewell is positioned in the surface of a roadwaythe hat cover is used.

It will be understood that other modications may be made in the designand arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a disappearing trac sign and signal, the combination whichcomprises a tubular Well extended downwardly and positioned below thesurface of the ground, a post having signs there- 0 Number on andmounted on a base vertically slidable in the well and normallypositioned within the well, means closing the well with the post andsigns therein, manually actuated dogs carried by the base of the postfor securing the post in an elevated position in the upper end of thewell, and manually actuated screw means for raising and lowering thepost in the well.

2. In a disappearing traiic sign and signal, the the combination whichcomprises a tubular well extended downwardly and positioned below thesurface of the ground, a post having sig-ns thereon mounted on a basevertically slidable in the well and normally positioned within the Well,means closing the Well within the post and signs therein, manuallyactuated dogs carried by the base of the post for securing the post inan elevated position in the upper end of the well, manually actuatedscrew means for raising and lowering the post in the well, and anelectric cable extended downwardly through the well and upwardly throughthe post to lights 0n the post.

HOWARD E. CAFFREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Feltham Jan. 4, 1921 Quick Jan. 15, 1929Otte Feb. 9, 1932 Eckard et al Mar. 31, 1936

